When you bend your elbow, you can easily feel its "tip," a bony prominence that extends from one of the lower arm bones (the ulna). That tip is called the olecranon (oh-lek'-rah-nun). It is positioned directly under the skin of the elbow, without much protection from muscles or other soft tissues. So it can easily break if you experience a direct blow to the elbow or fall on a bent elbow.

Causes
Falls, direct blows and other trauma are the most common causes of olecranon fractures.

Symptoms
Symptoms of an olecranon fracture include sudden and intense pain upon movement of the joint, bruising around the elbow, tenderness and swelling over the bone site, and possible deformity if there is also a dislocation of the bone. There may also be a rupture or abrasion of the overlying skin, and numbness in one or more fingers.

Treatment
Treatment will depend on the type of fracture.

• Type I fractures can usually be treated with a splint or sling to hold the elbow at a 90 degree angle. The physician will request a second set of X-rays after 10 days to make sure that the broken pieces have not become displaced. Gentle motion is permitted, and hand and wrist exercises should be done daily.
• Type II fractures are best treated surgically. The orthopaedic surgeon will use a plate or a combination of wires and pins or screws to hold the bones in place. Physical therapy to maintain range of motion will start a day or two after the operation, and continue for at least six weeks.
• Type III fractures are also treated surgically, usually with a plate that fits under the ulna and around the tip of the elbow. Screws hold the plate in place. You will have to wear a splint for a couple of days, then physical therapy to maintain range of motion will begin.

Fractures of the tip of the olecranon that do not involve the joint are may be treated by removing the small fragment and repairing the tendon that has pulled off. Elderly people who experience a type II or type III fracture may be treated with a sling and early range of motion instead of surgery. Athletes who have stress fractures of the olecranon are treated with activity restriction, stretching and range of motion exercises, and sustitution activities for 8 to 12 weeks, although complete recovery may take three to six months.